Packing



July 7,

v o' D' H' BENTLEY.

Filed May 31. 1923 Patented 'July 7, 1931 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE* otIvEza D. H. BENTLEY, oE-NonEoLx, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoR To B. E. STURTEVANT COMPANY, yor HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAssAcHUsETTs Y pAoxINe Apfmcauon inea my s1,

"t i present invention relates to packings "and 'more kparticularly tofpackings for sealthe'joints about amoving rod or shaft of amachine'to prevent leakage of gases and f 'vapors through the necessary openings in the machine casing provided for the shaft.

The common "type Lof metallic packing comprises rings of vgraphite or soft metal tightlysurrounding the machine shaft and P10 included withinkthe stuiiing box placed adjacent" the machine casing. Such.V packings effectively prevent leakage directly along the shaftbut diiiculty has been experienced ,in providing a tight joint between the packing and the stuffing box itself so .that ordinarily the' gas or vapor isenabled to leak past'the packing rings into' the'stuiiing box g and then into the atmosphere.

,j The object of thec present invention is to ,providea packing'which will not only secure afSeal along the shaft or rod itself, but will also: prevent leakage past thevpacking and through the stuffing box. v

With this object Yin view, the invention 1consists ofthe 'features ofconstruction and 'combination and arrangements of f parts yhereinafter described and particularly desteam turbinei l embodiment of the invention comprises a packing casing or stuiiing 'box 6 formed integral with the turbine casing" l Sthrough which therotatable shaft 10 'passes'. Theshaft is surrounded by packing rings 12and 14vof the form indicated in `Figs) andv 4. Each ring4 comprises a pair .of shaft-engaging 'segments' 16 having fiat- `tened finished surfaces engaged by a pair of 'smaller cap segments 18, the entire ring be 1923.- Serial No. 642,380.

ing forced tightly about the shaft by means of the circular, helical springs 20. The rings are conveniently of graphite or of soft metal such as Babbitt metal. The joints of the rings 12 and 14 are arranged at ninety degrees from each other to provide overlapping joints. In order to prevent rotation of the packing rings and to maintain them in yproper relative position, the ring 12 is anr chored in the turbine casing by means of pins 22 andthe ring'14 is anchored to ring 12 by means of pins 24, suitable holes being provided in the rings for receiving the pins.

A tight joint is thus provided which efiectively prevents Aleakage along the surface of the shaft either directly to the atmosphere or between thepacking rings into the stuffing box.

In order to prevent leakage between the packing and the casing or stuliing box and between the latter and the atmosphere seals are provided at both ends of the stufling box. YSuch seals are obtained by the means of a flexible ring 26 secured to the outer face of thestuifing box, the inner annular margin of which is included between a sealing ring 28 and an outer ring 30, both preferably of soft metal. The ring 28 is maintained in close engagement with the packing ring 14 by means of a spring member 32 having a plurality of spring ngers 34 bear'ing against `the ring 30. The springs also tend to force the entire assembly toward the inner end of the stuffing box and tighten the inner joint.

The flexible ring 26 and spring 32 together with a spacing ring 36 are secured to the outer end of the stuiiing box by a series of bolts 38. The function of the flexible ring 26 is to close the interior of the stuiiing box from the atmosphere and also to provide a flexible means by which the pressure of the spring fingers 34 may be exerted to form a tight seal between the ring 28 and the packing ring 14 and also between the ring 12 and casing 8 or end wall of the stuffing box.

This flexible ring may be of metal but pref-A erably consists of a stamping of fibrous packing material.

It will be seen that a double seal is thus provided at the inner and outer ends of the `if there is a IleakbetWeen' the casingand y'case any leakage starts toV take place.

stuiling box to enclose Va chamber vvhich Y Will tendto equalize any pressure differences between themachine andthe stuiiing boxin Will also beseen that the action of the spring fingers '34, tends to u iaintain,y the vsea-ls against any. .differences ofifluid .-pessur which may exist between the interior of the casing and the atmosphere, VWhich( pressure er seal,f'v vill increase-the pressure :Within the i f Stungb'ox S9. that further leakage .fromthe Yturbine isprevented Or apipe 4 2 may be provided which bythe escape ofsteaintherefromV Will indicate, Va leakage at the :inner seal. V 1 In ycaserthe turbine srun condensing Y. so lthat the pressure Within the tubne, 'casiesY is Well below atmosphere 'the Stilins box will tend to become partially exhausted the ringy 12.V Hovvever,"afterf slight @Xhlllr tion. the pressures ,fin the turbineand the Y @stumps-boi Will tend tpfiluelzefendthere' prevent furthe-r. lealQagejFurther-Inore,

steam 'may be Supplied. .esiby the pipe 42,@

" l' 'the Chamber 40'Which', held from free escape at'the outer seal, `will prevent the admission y ofairto. the casing.: T h isQL ;hainberlhvvhichV surrounds the, packing rings '.thereforejcrins vent any 'substantielleakegebetweeathe turbine and the atmosphere. 5111. QldelTfOl-flly leakage. to take place it must net Qnly- 'WSS' I beth jointsfbut must 'Overcome'thetecsleeey -of the Stufng box.toward pressureequalia- Y muy other ernbcdnients'. Itvill be. ande- `Stood.' that the invention iS i net limited', t0 .the; specific' constwltien Shown yu ldCle- 'fing, a cnditionfwhih would., Abe rarely-met Y Vlin practice unlessfthe .joints-at thv" rings were extremely poorVQV fr.

f "Although, thetzinven'OIl has tlated as emb'fliedi pecking: f y the "j oints about .turbine 7 'shaft-,

obvious that the 1A {scribcd5l butfniay be changed: v or niodified Without departing .the r broader features lof the inventonz- 'Wha-is, Claimed@ L ing the Shaft-engaging, POrDOnS'Qtli 'rings fbeiegllel from .r9-tation@ "me'remented bein disposed relativelyVl to oneianother to,

librea joints, a vsealing ring adjacentfthe 1puter. pz i' l :i11gv ring,' a flexible ring* secured enter weelereriie? @che 9er?? @ed Ity 'breil land @Serina utsdefthe .clqsure e bearingaganst .the closure Ytri-press the cle-j `sur@ ntoQengagement Wththepacling rings packin sp essftllc aCking-niaterialintoclase eng @pecking adapted@ receive a'shaft sealng recess @lle-ieee welk or web forcing the inner annular portion of the eX- vible ring andthe sealing ring inwardly to ofthe stu'ing boxyand a spring inember for.

provide aY tight joint at the Vouter end of the stuflingbox, the sprin member comprising.

an annular spor-tion' edlysupported on v theiend. orf-'the stu'Ig--bnx and fapluralty Q,f inwardly extending spring ngers.

fitting around theV shaftto prevent leakage y along the same, a closure for the outer end. @.f sungigxhaving vsubstantial 'Suf-,-

face' engagerneiitvvith the outer packing reeand including @flexiblereeseursflt0 the router Y. annuler Emblem. Qffhe 'llull andre press the'packingfrn s inheemse engagement with vthe 'inner Wal Qithefstuiing' bxtherebyenclosnga scaling chamber, 3- .A peeking. Comprising e stuingihcx adapted *to receive lashaiaiafkllgmterial iiatbestufng boxtoieneeee the shat .and

present aliases-1011s thshaiftfaeifen# eenewer e @Qnsidrablesuriacewith .the ,welleihe 'Stufhgfbea a @lesite ier the outer end. cf the. stuifin'ghox ef.. a ,flexible `1. 1'l`11fg7F means.; fer; @alleine ut-er perlpheralfper Oilao the ringe-tenf 'gage tightly h'the.. Qui/er ende? the/.stuifingvboapleicpoaicaof@the. .staving substantial sur-face engagement.. 'with'the 10o 1 clesursndrheehg aga t .e inner-.unsecured portion o the c 're t .y pressi. the

consisting@ latternrnst the paskne material" an@ l*10 Y with the inner wall@ ithe! te emesse. a sealing .reha/mbe 4. V'A packing coinpri'sin fitting tightlyhe shaft to'. eventim .,lgaee ringjaxialy g thesame. [a 'sec gageinent j y fer pressing' a',

e. @me

one another, theinner ring-inl close .co Withthefinner ,face of the lengaQ 'close ccrltctwthfthciler @di with @1.5911111 .asa-aaa her'efrm, e'ble' ring 'Within 011 nier `1..1,el., petienseeredfi the-bex f Y ,5? A fiackng, ceniiirisils Je" smiling :bex 5 adapted te receive a shaft, packingmaerel .inthe .stliile bcrland.ieageg. the Shan t0 prevent e be@ i loosely surrounding the shaft and secured to the outer end of the box and engagin with the outer end of the packing materia and spring devices pressing the ring against the packing to seal the sealing recess and force the packing material toward the inner end of the box to prevent leakage through the packing and between the packing and the inner end of the box.

OLIVER D. H. BENTLEY. 

